X-ray apparatus



April 17, 1962 D. MORT FI'AL 3,030,508

X-RAY APPARATUS Filed Sept. 24. 1959 INVENTORS David Mort & ChogI es H.Jennings ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,6305% Patented Apr. 17,1962 3,036,508 X-RAY APPARATUS David Mort, Catonsville, and Charles H.Jennings, Ellicott Irty, Md., assignors to Westinghouse ElectricCorporatron, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania FiledSept. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 842,150 8 Claims. (Cl. 250-57) The presentinvention relates to an X-ray apparatus and more particularly to animproved X-ray table structure.

A table structure of the type in which the present invention may beembodied to advantage will essentially include a frame or chassisproviding support for an bject-support or patient-support panel forminga table top. Provision may be made for tilting the frame andpatientsupport panel selectively between horizontal and vertical limitpositions.

The table may be employed in conjunction withveither fluoroscopy orradiography in which an X-ray source is disposed beneath thepatient-support panel and the X-ray sensitive material is located abovesuch panel. The table may also include the usual longitudinally-movablecarriage disposed beneath the patient-support panel to accommodate afilm cassette and Bucky diaphragm for use when it is desirable to employan X-ray source located externally of the table structure. To enableaccess to the film cassette and Bucky diaphragm in this latter case, thefront panel of the table structure will include a Bucky slot.

Irrespective of the location of the X-ray source, internally orexternally of the table structure, X-rays will be transmitted throughboth the table top and the patient or object resting thereagainst. Ineither event, the operator or radiologist will be located at the frontof the table, a position in which his mid section may be exposed tostray or secondary X-ray emission from the table top and patient.

In view of the foregoing remarks, it becomes an important object of thepresent invention to provide an X- ray table structure having aradiation shield for protection of the operator from the above-mentionedstray or secondary X-ray emission.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of anX-ray table having a radiation shield for the aforementioned purposewhich is conveniently stored within the table and readily available foruse when desired.

Another important object of the present invention resides in theprovision of an X-ray table having a radiation shield for the statedpurpose which is relatively simple and preferably in the form of a thinplate-like member which may be moved conveniently and with relative easefrom a retracted position to positions at the front of the table inprojection above the table top selected heights up to an extent at leastsubstantially equal to the thickness of the patient which will restagainst such top.

Another important object of the present invention resides in theprovision of an X-ray table having a radiation shield, which, inaddition to being extensible to a position in projection above the tabletop, also will simultaneously cover a Bucky slot at the front of suchtable.

Another important object of the present invention resides in theprovision of an X-ray table having a front radiation shield in accordwith the foregoing objects which is fully counterbalanced irrespectiveof the attitude of the table top; i.e. horizontal, vertical, or tilted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description thereof when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with partial cutaway, of a preferredform of an X-ray table embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the X-ray table of FIG. 1, showing the novelradiation shield incorporated therein in raised position; and

FIG. 3 is a partial view of the table of FIG. 1, showing a preferreddetail of the invention.

Referring particularly to FIG. I of the drawing, an X-ray tableembodying the invention essentially will comprise a chassis or bodyportion 1 which may take the form shown in the drawing as an elongatedrectangular box-like member having a patient-support panel 2 attached toan upper face thereof, to form the table top as viewed in FIG. 1, andcontaining therein the usual structural members, table-counterbalancemeans, and Bucky carriage (not shown). The usual X-ray table embodyingthe invention also will include an X-ray source 3 contained within thebody portion 1 and directed toward the patient-support panel 2 or tabletop for emission of X-rays through a patient 4 disposed against thepatient-support surface 5 of such panel 2.

The table may also include the usual Bucky slot 6 extendinglongitudinally of body portion 1 and opening outwardly through a frontface portion thereof. A Bucky diaphragm 7 in the form of a tray may beemployed in conjunction with the X-ray source 3 to serve its usualwell-known function, such diaphragm 7 being removable and insertablethrough the Bucky slot 6. The usual 'carriage mechanism (not shown) willbe associated with the X-ray source 3 and with the Bucky diaphragm 7 toenable same to be moved longitudinally of the body portion 1.

The usual spot film tower 8, including a spot film device 9 will beassociated with the body portion 1 and suitably mounted by means (notshown) for movement longitudinally of body portion 1 in synchronism withmovement of the X-ray source 3. Spot film device 9 will be adapted inthe usual manner for accommodation of X-ray film and a fluorescentscreen to produce recorded and visible images of the patient or objectundergoing examination. In the usual manner, the spot film device 9 maybe displaced, preferably to a vertical position, to permit employment ofan external source of X-rays for direction toward the patient-supportpanel 2. and the Bucky slot 6 will serve to accommodate substitution ofa film cassette tray for the Bucky diaphragm 7.

The X-ray table embodying the invention also may be of the tiltabletype, in which case as shown in FIG. 2, the body portion 1 will bepivotally supported such as by bearing means 10 carried by a pedestalmember 11 which may be disposed at the rear and bottom of such bodyportion 1. or in any other suitable manner.

Referring to FIG. 1, in accord with the invention, the X-ray table isprovided with a rigid sheet-like radiation shield 12 disposed at thefront of the table and hidden from view by a front cover panel member13, attached to the body portion 1. The front cover panel member 13extends preferably perpendicular to the patient-support panel 2 and isoffset forwardly of the front end of such panel 2 as well as forwardlyof a front portion 14 of body portion 1 in which the Bucky slot 6 islocated. The space located behind the front cover panel member 13 servesto accommodate the radiation shield 12 for concealed storage as well asto provide for disposition of a counterweight 15, counterweight guidemeans 16, cable and pulley means 17 for operatively connecting thecounterweight 15 to the radiation shield 12, guide means 18 fordirecting movement of the radiation shield 12 perpendicularly of thepatient-support panel 2 and for supporting such radiation shield 12 whenthe table is in a vertical attitude, and another guide means 19cooperable with the radiation shield 12 to maintain its proper attitudeand facilitate its movement. The top, as viewed in FIG. 1, of theradia-. tion shield storage space behind the front cover panel member 13is enclosed by a cover member which preferably extends downwardly andforwardly from the front portion 14 of body portion 1 into juncture withthe front cover panel member 13.

The counterweight 15 may be of any suitable shape, preferablysubstantially fiat as shown in FIG. 1, and is guided for movementperpendicularly of the patient-support panel 2 by means of the guidemeans 16 which preferably takes the form of a track 21 attached to bodyportion 1, through the medium of such as the front cover panel member13, and rollers 22 carried by counterweight 15 cooperable with the track21.

Means for operably connecting the counterweight 15 to the radiationshield 12 preferably will take the form of a flexible cable 17 ofelongated closed loop shape extending in the direction parallel to thedirection of extension of the guide rail 21 and passing around pulleys24 and 25 at fixed locations with respect to the body portion, 1 as byattachment to front cover panel member 13.

Guide means 18 preferably will take the form of a guide rail 27extending perpendicularly of the patientsupport panel 2 and attached tothe body portion 1 through the medium of such as the front cover panelmember 13, and a plurality of rollers 28 carried by the radiation shield12 and arranged to prevent its tilting in .a longitudinal direction.Guide roller means 19 are suitably attached to the body portion 1 forcooperation with opposite faces of the radiation shield 12 to facilitateits movement and support same against tilting in the direction forwardlyof the table.

The radiation shield 12 may be made of a sheet of suitable rigid X-rayshielding material such as steel, for

example, or layers of steel and lead of such thickness as will blocksecondary emission of X-rays from the patient and from the support panel2 to the desired degree during X-ray examination. The uppermost end ofthe radiation shield 12 as viewed in FIG. 1, for example, is providedwith a handle member 30 in the form of a continuous flange which ispreferably formed integral with and extends forwardly of the shield.Angulation of the handle member 39 with respect to the cover member 20is such that when the radiation shield 12 is disposed in its retractedposition in which it is shown in FIG. 1, ample space is provided betweensuch handle member 30 and cover member 20 to facilitate the placement ofthe operators hands therebetween to grip such handle member at any pointalong the shield 12 for moving it. Cover member 20 is provided with aslot 31 through which the radiation shield 12 extends, and alongitudinally-extendingrib 40, FIG. 3, is attached to cover member 20to project above the slot 31 for preventing entrance of spillovermaterial' into such slot when the table is in a horizontal attitude.

During non-employment of the novel radiation shield 12 embodied in theX-ray table as shown in FIG. '1, the shield will normally be disposed inits concealed and retracted position in which it is shown in FIG. 1.When the table is in its horizontal attitude, in which it also is shownin FIG. 1, the radiation shield 12 maybe raised with ease to any desiredextent up to its upper limit position (PEG. 2) by simply gripping thehandle member 30 and exerting a slight lifting efiort thereagainst.During upward movement of the shield 12, roller guides 28 and 19, willserve to direct such movement, while the counterweight 15 will balancethe weight thereof. The cable 23 is anchored at 32 to the radiationshield 12 and at 33 to the counterweight. During upward movement of theradiation shield 12, the counterweight 15 will move downwardly along thepath of travel defined byguide rail 21 and rollers 22, while the cable23 travels around pulleys 24 and 25 and exerts an upward pulling efforton the radiation shield 12.

When the table is in a vertical attitude, the Weight of thecounterweight 15 will be supported by the guide rail 21 through themedium of rollers 22, and the weight of the radiation shield 12 will besupported by the guide rail 27 through the medium of roller members 28,which rails 21 and 27 will then be disposed in a horizontal attitude. Itwill be apparent, therefore, that the radiation shield may be actuatedwith ease also when the table is in a vertical attitude; thecounterweight 15 merely rolling along the guide rail 21 by action of thecable 23 as the radiation shield 12 is moved inwardly and outwardly toand from its position behind the front cover panel member 13.

Irrespective of the attitude of the table 1, it will be apparent thatthe radiation shield 12 may be moved with ease to a selected positionfor the protection and accommodation of the operator of the X-rayapparatus. It will also be apparent that such shield as embodied in theX-ray table provides a simple, readily-accessible medium which protectsthe operator from secondary emission of X-rays from the table top 2 andpatient 4.

We claim as our invention:

1. A horizontal X-ray table comprising a top panel for patient support;a vertical front portion having a Bucky slot adjacent to and extendinglongitudinally of said top panel for substantially its full length; afront cover panel disposed forwardly and unobstructively of said Buckyslot and top panel; and a rigid sheet-like metal radiation shield oflength at least equal to that of said Bucky slot guidably mounted onsaid table for movement between a retracted position behind said frontcover panel to raised protective positions in front of said Bucky slotup to a limit position in extension above said top panel.

2. A horizontal X-ray table comprising a top panel for patient support;a vertical front portion having a Bucky slot adjacent to and extendinglongitudinaliy of and substantially the length of said top panel; afront cover panel displaced forwardly and unobstructively of said Buckyslot and top panel; a rigid sheet-like metal radiation shield of lengthat least equal to that of said Bucky slot guidably mounted on said tablefor movement between a hidden retracted position behind said front coverpanel to raised protective positions in front of said Bucky slot up to alimit position in extension above said top panel; and means including acounterbalance and guide for said radiation shield disposed behind saidcover panel.

3. An X-ray table comprising a normally-horizontal patient supportpanel, and a rigid radiation shield of approximately the length of saidpatient support panel mounted on said table for vertical movementbetween a lowermost retracted position giving unobstructed accessibilityto said patient support panel from the front thereof and raisedselective protective positions in projection above the plane of saidpatient support panel adjacent to its front edge.

4. An X-ray table comprising a chassis, a patient support panel carriedby said chassis, a flat radiation shield of length substantially equalto that of said patient support panel, guide-and-roller means interposedbetween said chassis and said radiation shield for directing movement ofsaid shield in a plane intersecting the plane of said patient supportpanel from a retracted position to protective positions in extensionbeyond the plane of said patient supp rt panel for disposition in frontof a patient contacting such panel, and counterweight means forcounterbalancing saidradiation shield.

5. An X-ray table comprising a tiltable chassis having a patient supportpanel which may be oriented to and between horizontal and verticalpositions; a rigid sheetlike radiation shield of length substantiallyequal to that of said patient support panel; track-and-roller meansinterposed between said chassis and said radiation shield to guidemovement of said shield perpendicularly of said patient support panelfrom a retractable position to a t position intersecting and extendingbeyond the plane of said panel for disposition in front of a patient incontact with such panel, said track-and-roller means serving also tosupport the weight of said shield in degree directly proportional to thedegree of verticality of said patient support panel; counterweightmeans; flexible cable means connected between said counterweight meansand said radiation shield; pulley means on said carriage for said cablemeans; and track-and-roller means interposed between said chassis andsaid counterweight means to guide movement of said counterweight meansperpendicularly of said patient support surface during movement of saidradiation shield and to support the Weight of said counterweight meansin degree directly proportional to the degree of verticality of saidpatient support panel.

6. An X-ray table comprising a normally-horizontal patient supportpanel, and a radiation shield of approximately the length of saidpatient support panel mounted on said table for vertical movementbetween a lowermost retracted position giving unobstructed accessibilityto said patient support panel from the front thereof and raised selectedprotective positions in projection above the plane of said patientsupport panel adjacent to its front edge.

7. An X-ray table comprising a normally-horizontal fiat patient supportsurface, an X-ray source directed perpendicularly of said patientsupport surface and movable longitudinally thereof, and a rigidsheet-like radiation shield of length equal substantially to the lengthof said patient support surface which is subject to exposure to X-raysfrom said X-ray source in all of its longitudinal 6 position along thetable, said shield being mounted on said table for vertical movementperpendicularly of said patient support surface from a retractedposition beneath the plane of said surface to protective positions inextension above such plane at an edge of said surface.

8. An X-ray table comprising a normally-horizontal fiat patient supportsurface, an X-ray source directed perpendicularly of said patientsupport surface and movable longitudinally thereof, a rigid sheet-likeradiation shield of length equal substantially to the length of saidpatient support surface which is subject to exposure to X-rays from saidX-ray source in all of its longitudinal positions along the table, saidshield being mounted on said table for vertical movement perpendicularlyof said patient support surface from a retracted position beneath theplane of said surface to protective positions in extension above suchplane at an edge of said surface, and counterbalance means constructedand arranged to fully support said shield in any of its selectedpositions and provide for facile manual movement vertically from any ofsuch positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,074,120 Hutton Sept. 30, 1913 1,117,266 Snook Nov. 17, 1914 1,967,980Talty July 24, 1934 2,567,566 Kizaur Sept. 11, 1951 2,767,323 Stava etal Oct. 16, 1956 2,835,824 Schepker May 20, 1958

